Campaign Signs

Campaign Signs and Political Campaign Advertisements

All Municipal Candidates must adhere to Wilton Manors Code and Florida State Statutes when using campaign signs and advertisements:

Campaign Signs in the Right of WayCampaign signs cannot be placed on public property or road rights of way, to include swales areas (area between the sidewalk and roadways). Please be advised that Code Compliance personnel will remove signs that are violating City Code Section 145.080 (Signs in the public right-of-way).

Please refer to City Code Section 145.080, 145.150(I) and State Statute 106.1435 as shown below for proper campaign sign guidelines.

Sec. 145-080. - Signs in the public right-of-wayNo signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way, except for the following. All proposed signs in the right-of-way require approval of the City Manager to ensure compliance with minimum, professionally accepted safety criteria.

(A)Permanent signs. The following permanent signs:

(1)Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information, and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic;

(2)Bus stop signs erected by a public transit company;

(3)Informational signs of a public utility regarding its poles, lines, pipes, or other facilities;

(4)Signs appurtenant to a use of public property permitted under a franchise or lease agreement with the City;

(5)Direction signs for public institutions and facilities, City activity districts such as "downtown," and civic organization identification signs, the latter being permitted only at entrances to the City, with each name or insignia not exceeding one square foot each.

(6)Awning, canopy and suspended signs projecting over a public right-of-way in conformity with the conditions of Sections 145-080 and 145-090 of this Article.

(7)Neighborhood or subdivision identification signs.

(B)Temporary signs.

(1)Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.

(2)Signs promoting a special event sponsored by the City, or authorized by the City to take place within the right-of-way. The City shall specifically approve any such signage, including its size, location, materials and copy.

(C)Security deposit and insurance. Issuance of a permit for signage in the right-of-way shall require a security deposit made payable to the City of Wilton Manors in the amount determined by Resolution of the City Commission for such permits. The applicant for the signage shall also provide insurance coverage as provided for in Subsection 145-090(K)(1).

(D)Permits shall state on their face that the City can require the owner to remove the sign at any time and for any reason, and that failure to remove the sign within thirty (30) days of the City's order to do so may result in forfeiture of the security and City removal of the sign.

(Ord. No. 874, § 3(Exh. A), 12-13-05)

Sec. 145-150(I)(I)Campaign signs. Campaign signs are permitted as freestanding signs, or signs mounted on fences or freestanding walls. Campaign signs are permitted in all zoning districts except the OSR District pursuant to the following regulations, and provided that all such signs shall exhibit the date of the conclusion of the campaign.

(1)Permit: Not required.

(2)Maximum number: One sign per street frontage.

(3)Maximum height: Six (6) feet in the RS and RD Districts, and ten (10) feet in all other districts.

(4)Maximum signage area:

a.RS, RD, RM, RO, and ROSC Districts: Seven (7) square feet.

b.Other districts: Twenty-four (24) square feet.

(5)Time period: Limited to ninety (90) days, beginning no earlier than ninety (90) days prior to the conclusion of the campaign (date of election or vote), and must be removed no later than fifteen days (15) after the conclusion of the campaign.

Usage and Removal of Political Campaign Advertisement as prescribed by Florida Statute.

106.1435 Usage and removal of political campaign advertisements.-- (1) Each candidate, whether for a federal, state, county, or district office, shall make a good faith effort to remove all of his or her political campaign advertisements within 30 days after:

(a) Withdrawal of his or her candidacy;

(b) Having been eliminated as a candidate; or

(c) Being elected to office. However, a candidate is not expected to remove those political campaign advertisements which are in the form of signs used by an outdoor advertising business as provided in chapter 479. The provisions herein do not apply to political campaign advertisements placed on motor vehicles or to campaign messages designed to be worn by persons.

(2) If political campaign advertisements are not removed within the specified period, the political subdivision or governmental entity has the authority to remove such advertisements and may charge the candidate the actual cost for such removal. Funds collected for removing such advertisements shall be deposited to the general revenue of the political subdivision.

(3) Pursuant to chapter 479, no political campaign advertisements shall be erected, posted, painted, tacked, nailed, or otherwise displayed, placed, or located on or above any state or county road right-of-way.

(4) The officer before whom a candidate qualifies for office shall notify the candidate, in writing, of the provisions in this section.

(5) This provision does not preclude municipalities from imposing additional or more stringent requirements on the usage and removal of political campaign advertisements.